Really exceptional service from the entire house. We got the Seabream Crudo as a starter - delicious, layered flavors. The roasted chicken as a main course - honestly, not great. The sauce was overwhelming and not very good. We got the Asparagus and Carrots as the sides - those were fantastic, obviously fresh, great sauces to accompany. A bottle of very good Riesling to wash all down, and a genepi digestif. Overall the experience was good, just wish we didn't get the chicken. read more

I believe it was Lumiere who said that a dinner in France is never second best and thus my expectations of Camphor were high, like the tip of Eiffel tower high. I expected to reach a gold star whle dining here and, truly, the star was reached and the proof is the remnant dust in my finger tips. It was my birthday, so I got to chose the eatery that would hold my celebration. My partner in dine was Conrad, a person who has never been blessed by the Notredame bells and French blue horns of Parisian haute couture fare. And as the dining experienced unfolded, at Camphor, I was quietly proud and happy that part of my birthday celebration was sharing the substance and sparkle of Europe's best buttered country: France. It had been awhile since I had a fancy French dinner. So I was genuinely surprised when the pre-appetizer came- the one that in French tranlsates to amuse the mouth. I can never really spell it and asking Google for help seems to obvious of a tool to deploy so let my descritpion stands because it is that is seasoned with the salt of the earth. It was the first time that Conrad had one. a French pre-appetizer and the one at Camphor was a bite to please the masses and make them swoon and lay their heads down with a soft yet profound ohh la la. But here is the thing, I do not remember exactly what I ate. By this time in the night, I was 5 cocktails deep so the explanation did not stick within my mind. But sometimes one does not remember the bites that they ate but how the bite made them feel. And this bite was a pow pow wow of flavor and texture in a single moutful. In short, it was the pizzazz that made the tounge go wow. Before that bite, a server brough us what looked like mints, but they were not. They were tightly bunched towels that when introduced to hot water they inflated or maybe rose with moisture to their thin and usable form. Conrad, I assume, was trying to hide his wonder. I am sure that seeing wash cloths appear after hot water hits a thing that looks like a mint is like a firework in the sky of Bastille's night. He keeps his emotional world better reserved than me. For me, seeing the wonder was a blitz of joy. Of course, Camphor rises to dining experience because they do not hold back with the nuanced treats that make a night a swirl of lights that strewn around a diner to make them feel special. Case in point, at the end of my meal I got a birthday card from the crew thanking me for my attedance. I thank them for honoring the trust I placed on them to help me celebrate my birthday throguh steadfast actions that produced nothing but delight. Conrad and I shared the onion tartine, and it was exceptional. It was a piece of bread (cut length wise) and soaked in french onion soup (with duck fat). The crispiness of the bread, the clear caramalized onion taste, the softness of the non-crust areas of the bread made soggy by the soup, were the kind of slurp and bite that contradicts to yum yum lane. We also had the scallop dish. Kind of like a ravioli stuffed with scallops. The dish was good. Solid. But I am not a fan of scallops. The pasta was al-dente. the sauce was buttered to bliss. So it was a strong showing, maybe just not for muah. The burger on the other hand, their Le Burger was a romp through a field of royal cows and fine feathered ducks. We had to order it the day before. Conrad and I only could have one to share. Our neighbors wanted one, they could not have one. Apparently, one of them was good friends with a radio host and he was going to notify the radio host because of the restaurant's folly. So the scarcity of the burger was part of the bite. I was eating something special, I had to order it before I sat, I could only share it, and other people nearby wanted it. It was like the hand bag of the season hanging on my palette. And boy was the burger superb. It was airy but thick with flavor. To describe it would require words and knowledge on the specifics of food that I never acquired. I am not sure if the burger balanced acidity with fat, or the technique that made the patty that succelent. But i know the following to be true: This was the best burger I have ever had in my life and that is a statement because I have visited Mc Donald's, Father Office, the French Laundry, carnivals and fairs, and plan to barbecue next Tuesday. To have lived and tasted a burger that rose to the best was a gift to me by Camphor. Why? I get to say that a burger revealed experience that allowed me to score my birthday with grand uniqueness. I enjoyed my experience at Camphor, and I would trust it again with an importance celebration. And they held that trust well. Ivan my server, was attentive, fun, and young. He was a plus in the night. I cannot forget to sparkle the light of Paris on him, for he added to the toast of the evening that honored my existene at Camphor and beyond. read more

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The food at Camphor is phenomenal--easily a 4.5 or 5/5--and our table server was delightful and attentive throughout the evening. Unfortunately, the front-of-house hospitality severely detracted from the experience. ​We had a 7:45 PM reservation for four, but were not seated until 8:20 PM--a 35-minute wait past our booked time. Delays happen and we completely understand that previous diners linger, but the host never once offered the word "sorry" let alone an apology. Instead, after we checked in multiple times to inquire about the table, we were asked for our drink order while standing in the corner at 8:15 PM, only to find every single drink charged on the final check. ​For a Michelin-starred dining experience and an easy $600+ bill, basic hospitality standards should apply. If an establishment chooses not to acknowledge or apologize for a significant delay, offering a courtesy drink while guests wait is standard practice. If I had gotten an apology I wouldn't have expected the drinks. But to offer neither an apology nor a small gesture of goodwill felt dismissive and out of touch with the rest of the meal. read more

My wife and I dined at Camphor this weekend, after attending the opening of the Lucas Museum, and what a wonderful experience it was. The restaurant has an upscale yet relaxing vibe. The staff are friendly, engaging, and attentive. If you take the time to listen, you can hear and see that the restaurant is run like a Swiss watch. The kitchen and wait staff communicate like you would see in The Bear or The Menu, which I found amusing. Sue and I both had the burger and fries and they were superb. I also had a glass of a Napa red, which was equally wonderful. Camphor doesn't disappoint. read more

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Camphor is tucked in an alley in DTLA with super modern vibes. The staff is friendly and attentive. The meal starts off with a lovely bite and we opted to get a baguette with butter and honey to start along with beef tartare and the French onion tartine. The tartine was so delicious while being basically French onion soup as a tartine. The hamburger was excellent as were the frites that came with it. I didn't have room for dessert. read more

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Another year, another birthday dinner post from me. This particular milestone year I celebrated with some generous girlfriends for my birthday at this Michelin Star French inspired spot. Let's get into it (I've been watching a lot of LA in a Minute): Our waiter started us off with some delectable amuse bouche. It is a patachoux (pardon my horrible French spelling) with a light airy cream and two cheeses. It was a total flavor bomb and my dinner mates and I looked at each other as if we ate our last meal. What we experienced was super umami, super light, and didn't leave an aftertaste. Apparently it was to cleanse our palates so that was certainly a welcomed surprise. He also gave us towels to wipe our hands. To even out all of the heavy protein and potatoes we ordered we also enjoyed a delicious endive salad with a passionfruit Caesar. There was also some Parmesan crisps and slivers of Parmesan that really elevated this salad. The dressing was light and tangy and didn't have that heaviness that Caesar dressing tends to have. It looked like a lot in this serving but we managed to clean it. For our entrees we ordered the steak au poivre, scallop Demi lune, chicken agrodolce, and potatoes, and served with these perfect brown dinner rolls. The steak melted in our mouths, the scallop Demi lune ravioli was mouth watering, and the chicken agrodolce was probably the juiciest prepared chicken I've ever tasted. The potatoes were prepared as these balls and served with a buttery sour cream and chives, a good starch with the proteins. For dessert we kept it light with a Meyer lemon ice served with marzipan inside. It reminded me of the fruit shaved ice at Guppy's with the condensed milk. It was super refreshing after the heavy meal. And my birthday candle was edible white chocolate how fun! Even our bill came with these little Madelines. Something sweet to end our spectacular meal. My girlfriends and I are planning to come back to try out their burger and fries but good lord what a way to enjoy our first time at this restaurant. read more

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For a birthday staycation with the wife, I wanted to treat her to a Michelin-rated restaurant. After looking at reservation availability, cuisine, and how far it was from our hotel, Camphor ended up being the best choice. And wow, that turned out really well. The restaurant itself is inside a converted warehouse, which gives it a pretty cool feel. I really liked the ambience - stylish, warm, and welcoming, but not intimidating. It has that white-tablecloth level of service without feeling uptight or like one of those snooty fine-dining places. Service was excellent and felt personal from the start. I especially liked that the restaurant reached out a couple of days before our reservation to confirm our menu choices, especially for limited-availability items like the lobster. Once we got there, everything felt polished and attentive, but still relaxed. We started with the Comté Cheese Gougères and Seabream Crudo, both nice ways to ease into the meal before the heavier dishes. Then came the Baguette with Époisses Butter + Wild Honey. This was ridiculously good. Warm bread, creamy salty butter, and just enough sweetness from the honey. Simple, but seriously divine. Tip: save some of that baguette. You're going to want it later.... ... especially for the Lobster Saffron Risotto. The lobster was market price at $190 when we went, so definitely not cheap, but it was easily the highlight of dinner for me. The lobster itself was beautifully cooked, but that creamy, flavorful saffron risotto underneath it was what really got me. I actually found myself eating slower and taking smaller bites because I wanted that taste to last longer. And yes, this is where that leftover baguette comes in. Use it to scoop up whatever risotto is left on the plate. The Steak Au Poivre was another winner. Ours came out a really nice medium rare, with great color and flavor, and it was incredibly tender. It was one of those steaks where you barely need to chew - you can just let it sit in your mouth for a bit and enjoy that peppery, slightly tangy sauce. I also liked that they serve it already sliced, which makes it much easier to share with the table. Another small tip if you're ordering both the Steak Au Poivre and Lobster Saffron Risotto: I'd ask for the steak to come out first. The risotto has such a rich and strong flavor that I think the steak is better appreciated before it. We really wanted to save the best for last and stretch out the enjoyment of that lobster risotto as long as we could. We finished with the Amuse-bouche alongside coffee, which was a nice little way to wrap up the meal. Portions were surprisingly generous too. Looking at the restaurant and the Michelin star, I was half expecting those tiny fine-dining portions where you start thinking about grabbing something else afterward. Nope. We left very well fed. What started as simply the most practical Michelin choice for our staycation ended up being one of the most memorable meals we've had this year. Great space, warm service, generous portions, and food we're still talking about a few days later. That Lobster Saffron Risotto in particular is going to be very hard to forget. read more

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Camphor was added to my list of when Maddy M, my favorite Yelp CM :), reviewed it in 2024. I'm not sure why it took me so long to dine here -- it may be due to the area and how busy it gets. But in planning for our July birthdays, I finally made a reservation. I chose seating at the Chef's Counter thinking it would be a different and interesting dining experience -- it did not disappoint. The husband absolutely enjoyed it! Upon arrival the sweet hostess warmly welcomed us in, then wished us both a happy birthday. Our seats had full view of the chef and the kitchen. Our incredible experience started when a small bowl of two solid white tabs, was placed in front of us. A small pour of warm water expanded them to become lightly citrus-scented towelettes. Shortly after cleansing our hands, the amuse-bouche arrived. We knew after this bite-sized hors d'œuvre, that we were going to have a wonderful dinner. The husband chose the Steak au Poivre (of course) with Pomme Frites while I was drawn to the Scallop Demi Lune. But first bread -- we chose Sourdough accompanied by Époisses Butter & Wild Honey -- so, so good! Then the mains (wow!) -- everything was meticulously prepared and presented. The steak was unbelievably delicious with the pepper sauce which was poured at the table. The Pomme Frites were perfectly crisp and tasty, served in a small cast iron vessel to keep them warm throughout our meal. But the scallop-filled pasta was the showstopper for me. It arrived with a side of warm, lightly toasted brioche to pick up all that luscious sauce. It looked so appetizing that the husband who has refused scallops in the past, couldn't resist a taste and he loved it! Watching the chef and his team manage service for a full house was truly delightful. We enjoyed the experience of seeing all the different dishes plated and the chef calling out for "hands". We were especially fascinated with the assembly of the Chocolate Hazelnut at the station right in front of us. We fully intended to have it for dessert but sadly had no room for it (next time!). And just when we thought it was over, we were surprised with two edible candles, lit at our table. The husband really liked these white chocolate treats -- he ate them both! We also received lovely handwritten birthday cards. Then two little pecan madeleines arrived with the check -- those were mine. :) I love, love French Food -- Camphor takes it to another level. The entire team is quite exceptional. Seriously excellent from beginning to end. We look forward to returning often. Parking -- it's the LA Art District so it will be challenging if you don't opt for valet or the paid lots. We were pleasantly shocked to have come by street parking as we drove up 2nd street. read more

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Imagine, sea bream crudo with green apple shaved ice. Scallops inside pasta with truffle/chive crème. Duck and aged-beef burger with beef fat, caramelized onions, and a crisp brioche bun. Creative and delicious. Definitely some wonderful dishes on the menu. For the record, the burger IS worth the trip should you only order that... but so are the scallops and the sea bream. Those three were easily my top three favorites and we tried quite a bit. I loved the uniqueness of each dish. Camphor is a low key, beautifully done restaurant in the Arts District. The interior is pleasantly inviting and quiet with a jazzy/old school playlist. Definitely a charm the minute you step inside. Open kitchen concept with bar seating available too. Our server, Ivan, was pleasant and patient. Money well spent (and it is a little pricey). read more

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Food (5/5): Exceptional food! I've been here 3 times now and Camphor executes fine dining food so incredibly well. Their oysters were hearty with a refreshing flavor. Their burger was juicy and I was thoroughly impressed how it didn't need lettuce and tomato to be absolutely delicious. The fries were a perfect crisp. The star of the show: the steak!!!! It's perfectly to the temp of your choice, the peppercorn sauce layer on the bottom brought out the flavor of the steak. The best time to come to Camphor is their steak frites nights on Thursday. Apparently Camphor's Michelin star comes from their chicken so I must try next time! Price (5/5): Mind you, Camphor is a fine dining experience so expect dishes to be expensive. My high rating has to do with how worth it the food is. I must repeat: come on Thursday for their 8oz steak with fries priced at $65 Ambiance (5/5): Nicely decorated and comfortable seating. Come here on a date or a celebration. I wouldn't say families with young children are best suited here just because the space is a little tight and the menu is more mature. Service (5/5): Friendly and knowledgeable staff. The sommelier made great recommendations for wine. read more

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highly recommend celebrating your birthday here they sure know how to make you feel special! The fries are out of this world to not leave without trying them. But the star of the show believe it or not, was the endive salad with the passionfruit Caesar dressing... I'm not even a salad girly and I'm already craving it!! Service was great and the venue is as charming as it gets. The only miss for me was the burger... but dont get me wrong if you like duck this is THE burger for you. It was exceptionally done mixture of beef and duck. read more

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Camphor is a chill, classy, not pretentious vibe with delicious cuisine and friendly staff. Service is top notch. New plates and silverware for each course. You even get to select your own knife made in France if you order the ribeye. Amuse-bouche: perfect cheesy bite Onion tartine: I can't stop thinking about this. It's SO good! Sourdough bread, topped with French cheeses and a gravy, like a deconstructed French onion soup. Devine. Endive Salad: a light, refreshing Cesar salad with a passion fruit twist. Tartare: Made perfectly flavorful, paired with a basil leaf coated in - light tempura batter, delicious. Ribeye: Tender and juicy. Mushroom Pithivier: Who knew mushrooms could be cooked in such a buttery, flavorful way wrapped up in a delicate heavenly pastry. Potatoes: Again, who knew little potatoes could be cooked in a way that makes each bite taste so creamy, yet simple, but so delicious?! Asparagus with Bernaise sauce: Cooked perfectly. Lobster Risotto: Creamy, tomato-based sauce, with perfectly cooked risotto topped with delectable lobster. Le Burger and pommes fritte: The burger is so juicy, rich is flavor, the meat literally melts in your mouth. The fries are too salty. Kiwi: Unfortunately I'm allergic and couldn't try it, but everyone in my party LOVED it. Bread pudding: I've never had dark chocolate baked into a bread pudding and it's the best bread pudding I've ever had. Yum! Paired with vanilla ice cream. Extra yum! A wonderful experience and I know exactly what I'm coming back for! read more

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My favorite Burger in LA...sat at the bar and enjoyed great service. Drinks are delish and you can't leave without trying the Bread Pudding. Docking one star as menu is quite limited and aside from the burger, nothing else spoke to me. read more

Really disappointing experience at Camphor. We specifically asked about corkage when we arrived and were told it was $50 per bottle with a two-bottle maximum. Later in the evening, we opened a third bottle. No one came over to warn us or tell us there would be a different charge. Then the bill arrived with a $100 corkage fee for the third bottle. What bothered me most was that the manager admitted they had seen us open it. So they knew at the time, but instead of simply coming over and saying, "Just so you know, the third bottle is $100," they waited until the end of dinner to tell us. When I asked where this policy was disclosed, the manager kept saying it was their "policy" and mentioned a handbook, but couldn't actually show us anything. We spent around $2,000 that night, so this was not about an extra $50. It was the way it was handled. The whole thing felt unnecessarily sneaky and left a really bad taste in our mouths. The food itself was also pretty forgettable for a restaurant with this reputation. Unfortunately, I would not come back. read more

Camphor - 2k bill - French Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Came here with high expectations given that it has had a one star Michelin for 4 years in a row! Overall, really enjoyed this place for dinner. Our server was attentive and thorough in explaining our selected dishes and checked up on us throughout the night. I would recommend making a reservation as this place gets packed! What we ordered: -Scallop Demi Lune: MUST order, would come back just for this! Each one was filled with a sweet scallop and was covered in this delicious beurre blanc sauce. -12 oz Ribeye: came with the a side of potatoes poached in butter as well as crème fraiche to dip it in. Could choose between herb butter or escargot butter to go on top on the steak. It was cooked well but nothing special to justify $150. -Kiwi Mint Sorbet: Refreshing dessert to end the meal, would recommend! read more

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Husband made a reservation here and I can see why it's been Michelin star rated for 4 years in a row. It's in a little warehouse looking alleyway in the LA arts district. Interior is a bit small but very atmospheric with a high emphasis on the color white. I joked with my husband that with the staff wearing all white, I was going to be put in a straitjacket lol. They're very meticulous, with hand towels to wipe in the beginning, wiping off the table in between courses, and folding napkins whenever we got up to use the restroom. Starters: sourdough bread (served with this tangy cheese butter and spicy honey. The combo works well) and caviar with bilinis and chips. Entree: 16 oz ribeye, served with seasoned potatoes and creme fresh on the side Desert: bread pudding The presentation for the caviar is unlike others. My husband and I each had our own pearl spoons and steel spoons for each side. Very nice touch. The entree of the 16oz ribeye with the potatoes was a little too soft, I think potato frites would've added more crunchy texture to a very soft and tender dish. The creme fresh was so delicious with the ribeye. Overall very good restaurant! With very attentive service. Would come back read more

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Had a great experience at Champhor to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday. A reservation is highly recommended to get a table. Parking is quite limited, with a small lot in front that you must pay for valet. Otherwise, there may be street parking nearby. Our group dined on a Sunday at 5pm, and the restaurant opened promptly at that time. The interior bright and minimalist, I loved how the sun comes into the restaurant lights up the place during the evening. Service was also top notch, they were very knowledgable about all the dishes and made great recommendations. The menu appears to change frequently so some items may be different during your visit. We started with some of the non-alcoholic drinks, I ordered the St. Tropez and it was a light and refreshing citrus drink that started the meal off very well. Our server brought us a complimentary appetizer dish that was finished in one bite. Our group ordered 8 dishes, 5 appetizers and 3 mains. It was plenty of food to share and a good amount for 4 people. My favorite were the scallops and the steak, I had wished I could have eaten more but by the end I was so full. Overall it was a great dinner to celebrate, everything was cooked so well with elevated flavors and unique interpretations. read more

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Went here with a bunch of friends a couple weeks ago. We like to treat ourselves from time to time and check out Michelin star restaurants in the area. I wanted to see what was still on my mind a couple weeks after eating there, having had some time to sit with it, and honestly for everything we ate and drank there were three things I'm still thinking about - Le Burger - this is incredibly rich and delicious. You have to be in the right mindset for it but if you are this is a must. And the pomme frites are a solid side to go with it. I'd come back here just for this. Beef Tartare - honestly not a big beef tartare guy but this was the exception. It was just so full of flavors. I could eat a bowl of it. French Onion Tartine - I'm a big French onion soup guy so this was just right up my alley. If you are like me then definitely get this. If not your thing then probably won't be for you. The cocktails were really good too. I tried three of 'em but couldn't tell you what they were, (whoops) I like it light and refreshing though and they hit the spot. The Seam Bream Crudo and the scallop dumplings were also light and full of flavors. Good and satisfying but don't need to revisit. My wife and I are big oyster people, we have to order wherever we go. Here, it was just... fine. The amaretto mignonette was bright and tangy but kind of overwhelmed the oyster so it got lost in all the flavors. The ribeye, we had to order in advance. It was cool how we got to pick our own steak knives. A nice touch but the ribeye itself, while cooked properly, was pretty basic and forgettable. Probably the only real dud for me. The place was nice overall. Good atmosphere. Not too loud. Our waiter, Thomas, was terrific. Knew his stuff, super attentive and just a total pro. 5 out of 5 there. Only big complaint - the table size, for a party of 6 we were all kind of crammed into one table. Seemed to be the standard size throughout the restaurant far as I could tell. So yeah, worth checking out overall. Definitely try the burger and try as many cocktails as you can. Some things will blow you away over others but a nice hang with friends. read more

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My very first Michelin star and I'm so happy I chose Camphor for a very special dinner. Right when I walked in the interior screamed elegant. Loved the whole white aesthetic, it was impressive! They served a cream puff pastry that you should eat in one bite at the beginning of dinner and it was a good palate cleanser. They should make it a dish actually. Our cocktails were amazing, nothing too crazy but they tasted sophisticated and light. The Saint Germain was probably my favorite. The dishes we ordered were the onion tartine, radicchio salad (almost like a Caesar salad), the ribeye and some scallop pasta. The onion tartine was WOW. I've never had anything like it before. The salad was also a great addition to dinner and loved the croutons they used for that light crunch. The ribeye was exceptional quality and the sauce was unique and rich. But let me tell you about the potatoes that came with the ribeye... phenomenal. The potatoes came with a crème fraîche on the side and I think I would come back just for these perfect golden potatoes smothered in butter and topped with crème fraîche. It's basically a higher quality deconstructed baked potato. I absolutely loved our server- he was so enthusiastic and nice! It made our dining experience even better so thank you! All of his recommendations were spot on. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Came for Steak Frites night. I have to say, this is THE BEST STEAK FRITES IN LA. Steak was cooked to perfection. The flavors were also made to perfection. The fries were also delicious. Honestly, their Steak Frites night is such a great value. I've come here a few times in the past for their regular menu too, never had a chance to leave a review. As to the regular menu, the food is also amazing, and done with even more care and precision than Steak Frites night. Overall, to me, this is one of the best restaurants in LA (Dunsmoor is nowhere close). read more

Camphor - French Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Steak Frites Night! I finally made it! I've been excited to try this for a while, and a last minute solo trip to the bar did not disappoint. On Thursdays, they focus on one thing and do it perfectly: Steak Frites. The meal started with a fresh, flavorful baguette and incredible butter, followed by a salad with a simple yet fantastic dressing. Then came the main event. I paired the 8oz hanger steak with a glass of red wine, and it was a match made in heaven. The tarragon sauce was amazing, and the fries were perfectly crisp. I was nearly full, but once I heard the dessert special a crepe cake with cream and a strawberry St-Germain sauce how could I say no. It was easily one of the best desserts I've had in a long time. If you love Steak Frites, this is a must try. Truly one of the best in town! read more

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Camphor is great for a special occasion. It's a high end restaurant, beautifully decorated and with seating that feels intimate. I am not a fan of restaurants not seating you until your whole group is there, especially when our reservation was at opening time and there were plenty of tables available. After that, staff was highly professional and our plates were always cleared as soon as we took the last bite. The menu is French and most of the dishes were quite rich and heavy. We split the onion tartine and the passionfruit caesar with the table after enjoying the amuse bouche. These were my favorite items of the meal and the salad was much needed to cut the richness. I felt both the salad and the tartine were quite unique and appreciated the creativity. My main was the burger, and I also sampled the steak and the chicken. The burger is made with duck and beef and served with the perfect french fries and a trio of dipping sauces. It's one of the juiciest burgers I have ever had but for the cost I would go for other items on the menu next time that may be more worth the price point. The chicken was also extremely moist and the steak was perfectly tender, both doused in a delectable sauce table-side. Overall we really enjoyed the meal. Definitely try the cocktails, as I found mine to be both inventive and refreshing. read more

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A Michelin starred restaurant with a burger on their menu? Sign me up Having already ordered a burger at another Michelin starred restaurant earlier in the week, I stopped by Camphor to try the same as I was in the general area Restaurant felt very upscale with an immaculate white decor. Despite not having a reservation, the hostess was kind in allowing me to grab a seat at the bar. My bartender was very helpful with the menu as well Ordered the vaunted burger and it turned out that about three quarters of those of us seated at the bar had also ordered the burger The burger itself was fantastic. Very juicy, well balanced, and full of flavor. The accompanying fries were excellent as well, just the right amount of crispness. The spicy aioli sauce that accompanies the fries is addictive, and the mustard sauce not far behind All in all, the great reputation Camphor has earned for their burger is well deserved. If I had to choose between the burger at Camphor and the other Michelin one star place, I would choose Camphor's burger, though the other one was nice as well with their dry aged beef read more

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Camphor is a stunningly beautiful hideaway in the Arts District with great service. With beautiful dappled light pouring in, gorgeous flower arrangements, and a simple, yet classy, decor, it certainly fits the bill for a more upscale establishment aesthetically. And while everything I had was good, I'm not sure I'd call any of the food truly exceptional. My favorite bites of the night were the scallops and the famed burger. The former were surrounded in a pillowy soft pasta and a decadent sauce, while the latter was quite flavorful. I honestly expected more out of the lobster saffron risotto especially for the price tag. The lobster itself had been cooked to perfection, but the risotto didn't have the depth that I'd hope for. And I, personally, prefer my risotto with a bit more of an al dente bite. I'm a fiend for carrots, regardless of preparation, so I was disappointed that those were my least favorite of the night. They just felt basic to me. Needed more of a flavor profile or a char as they were a little limp. While the bread pudding had a great texture, the taste left me wanting more. The vanilla marshmallow ice cream it was served with, however, was a winner. All in all, a good experience. But if I was ever to come back, I'd probably just stick with the burger. read more

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This restaurant has one of the best steak frites I've ever had. They only serve steak frites on their pre fix menu every Thursday night. It is a MUST TRY! The stater salad is equally just as great. The ambiance and service here are also top notch. Everyone was attentive and kind throughout the experience. If you are looking for a place that serves great steak frites, Camphoris the place to visit. read more

Camphor - Steak Frites - French Near Me - Los Angeles, California

We just had a dinner for 4 on Camphor's steak frites Thursday nights and I could not have been happier with the food, the service, the details, the checking-in with me earlier in the week from Michelle via text... all of it. It was all superb. Service from Ornella and the entire staff could not have been more perfect on this Thursday night. We very much appreciated their care, greetings throughout the night and just simply, remembering our names. It goes a long way, these details, and they are so good at it. We were celebrating my fiancee's birthday and newly-accepted job as well as my birthday too. I got a text from the restaurant earlier in the week to confirm that we were indeed coming and they were also double checking the names of the birthday celebrants & who got the new job. I applauded their thoroughness and told them as much in my text. It definitely gave me a peek into the details they make sure to nail down while at dinner. My fiancee & I had dined inside this space when it was still Nightshade. That was a handful of years back. Because of that, we figured we'd be a little familiar with the layout now that it's been Camphor for a few years. The dining area is still spotless. From the stemware to the china and silverware. It was all so nice. Blue velvet upholstery on the side benches now instead of emerald green. So for $65, you get a still-warm baguette with french butter topped with sea salt, a perfect salad with a delicious sherry (?) vinaigrette and walnuts & a very tender hangar steak in an amazing tarragon sauce with perfectly fried potatoes. The frites come with 3 dipping sauces. All are tasty but its Heinz 57 for me. My cousins and the lady loved the tangier one that had hint of horseradish. We all loved our steak frites dinner. This was by far the favorite steak frites I've had. The sauce was just so perfect with it. The steak was so tender. The fries were so crispy... every.single.one.of.them. So good. We're so glad we came to celebrate our milestones at Camphor. For the seasonal dessert, we had a lemon cream layered in between puff pastry ($18). Topped with a dollop of pineapple gelee and gold flake. There was gold flake throughout the layers of this dessert. It was so good. It wasnt too sweet but how they manage to get the layers of french puff pastry that wasnt super thin to still be so flaky and delicate, I do not know. But we loved it, ate it up and didnt leave any of it behind. So very good. Camphor staff gave my fiancee and I, the birthday celebrants, each an envelope. Hers with a handwritten note congratulating her on her new job & wishing her a happy birthday. Mine also with a handwritten note saying, Joyeux Anniversaire. It was so nice and really touched us both. We couldnt have been more pleased with the extra mile Camphor's staff went to make us feel special. We also each had candles to make our birthday wishes with. We will most certainly be back. Both for more steak frites Thursdays and to experience their Michelin star awarded menu. We cant wait. Merci Camphor, merci... We wont forget it. Thank you for the rosé. You all are amazing. Valet out front is $22. Street parking outside the alley, if available. read more

six stars if possible genuinley the best food i think i ever had in my life love this place read more

Camphor - French Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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The moment you walk into Camphor you are welcomed by warm hosts, a surprisingly rare experience in the LA finer dining scene. The restaurant decor is sleek and modern. You can also see the kitchen from half of the restaurant. I love this! Our server was amazing, knowledgeable, and helpful. He talked to us about the chef, the name of the restaurant, and of course made amazing menu recommendations. We loved every bit of food and every sip of our cocktails. Already planning another date night here. So worth every penny! read more

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Try Le Burger. You won't regret it. They also impress with their service and ambience. Perfect for a date night or special evening out.

This might be one of my favorite restaurants in LA! For me, it's one of those places where no dish has failed me yet. Personal favorites are the onion tartine, radicchio salad, and beef tartare. Also love the steak au poivre and chicken. We were celebrating so we also splurged for the lobster risotto which was so delicious but would only order it again for special occasions since it's on the pricey side. Ended the meal with the Kiwi dessert which was very refreshing. Service was very attentive and friendly. Valet is offered outside at $22. There's also street parking and public paid lots nearby. read more

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Camphor is a beautiful space in a fun neighborhood. The service was attentive and the food presentation was beautiful. The Open kitchen is enjoyable to watch from the bar seating and the menu has a good amount of variety. The ambiance certainly sets a moody romantic stage which my friend and I did enjoy. The wine and cocktails were good and served it pretty glassware. My favorite item was the steak tartare with the fried herb leaves but unfortunately that is no longer on the menu. I was excited to try the French onion toast dish but for me was underwhelming. Maybe too rich, or too large. There were only two of us. Everything was good but nothing was incredible.... In my humble opinion. read more

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Camphor had some interesting dishes on the menu, and I'm glad I got to taste a variety of them throughout my meal. I actually was very impressed by their drinks menu, which had a larger and more creative non-alcoholic section than I am used to getting at some of the other comparable restaurants I've been going to. We were greeted warmly by staff upon arrival and seated promptly, our drinks orders were taken, and then the manager came over to explain the whole menu to us himself which was helpful. My standout dishes were the Chicken which was incredibly moist, the steak which was perfectly cooked, and the burger which was a blend of duck and beef (served with perfectly crisp frites!). The kiwi dessert with kiwi presented in 3 or 4 different ways was creative, aesthetic, and fresh and palette cleansing. Compared to other Michelin restaurants I've been to lately, it's solid but perhaps not as exciting or creative. And especially for that price point, I feel like I'm not getting as much as I could at other places. read more

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I had a really fantastic dinner here and have been raving about it since. Located in the Arts District, some street parking around but mainly valet or paid lots. The dining area is beautiful, and it feels like a fine dining establishment but still very welcoming. Staff were all pretty lovely and on top of it too. The only time there was a rift was when there was a shift switch of some sort but not an issue. The food was incredible. I enjoyed every dish we tried - this spot deserves the michelin star. I enjoy that you can order a la carte versus a prefixe. Starters I would order again: SEA BREAM (a must), bread, onion tartine, and tartare. Mains/specials - a classic but delicious ribeye of course, and le burger. Sides - POMME FRITES - my friend could not stop raving about these and I agree! read more

What a unique and beautiful way to experience Camphor. Although the steak frites was good, it wasn't the highlight of my meal. I thoroughly enjoyed the bread and butter and absolutely loved the dessert. The service is what really elevates the experience. read more

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Camphor will absolutely be a repeat restaurant for us after a phenomenal birthday dinner. The menu is refreshingly simple, yet every dish features delicate, complex twist that made us genuinely inquisitive about the ingredients. We started off with fresh and meaty oysters, perfect tartare, and an intricately layered sea-breams with Santa Barbara uni - the standout "trophy" appetizer for the night. For our main course, we got their famous burger with fries and their ribeye. My only minor feedback is that my rib-eye slightly had too much sauce than my liking. We fished it off with their bread pudding which arrived with an edible, lemon zest candle for my birthday. The entire experience was elevated by our server who expertly guided us through the menu. Loved the ambiance which felt cozy and comfortable. read more

Camphor - Food - French Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Camphor was the 7th spot my wife and I tried with our 2026 Red Dining Book, and we couldn't have been happier with the our experience. The food was fresh, flavorful, and generously portioned, with the highlights being the endive salad with passionfruit cesar dressing, the steak au poivre, and the scallop demi lune. Multiple dishes came with fresh house rolls to soak up the delicious sauces. Service at the chef's counter was prompt, attentive, and polite. Will absolutely be back. read more

Reviewing specifically for steak frites night. We've tried their steak frites two times. The first time around, we ordered the steaks medium rare. They were quite rare and bloody when we got them. The texture was too chewy and the flavor was lacking. Fries were good though and service was nice. After a disappointing first time, we wanted to try again. This time around we ordered the steaks medium. They both came out literally just like the last time??? Fries felt a little lackluster too compared to first time. Either way, won't be coming back for their steak frites. Not worth it. Not sure if people are just gaslighting themselves to liking it because of the price and ambiance of the place. read more

The good: Radicchio salad w/ passionfruit Caesar dressing - deliciously creamy, yet light and refreshing! The passionfruit in the dressing really brightened the normally heavier Caesar dressing. Onion tartine - perfectly toasted bread in a "sauce" that is similar to French onion soup but thicker consistency. Great flavors in this dish - almost licked the plate. The mid: Dover sole - this fish is typically a lighter fish so we weren't expecting an explosion of flavor but it was bland and overcooked. It was well presented and filleted table side which was cool but the fish itself and the sauce it came with lacked flavor & even the capers were bland. Not worth the price tag as well. Chicken agrodolce - read all the positive reviews about the chicken and was excited to try but honestly the sauce was reminiscent of the orange chicken at Panda Express. The chicken itself was moist, but the sauce was just sweet and tangy without much dimension. I love Panda Express but was expecting more from this dish. The bad: Overcharged for Dover sole - the Dover sole was listed as a singular price on the menu and in a text we received but when we received the bill, we were charged a higher price. We showed the waiter and they said that the Dover sole was charged based on the size of the fish?? but it was listed as a singular price, if it was charged by size then it should be reflected as Market Price or varies. The manager then came by and apologized and cited it as a button issue and fixed it immediately which was a different excuse than earlier but I wondered if other patrons were being charged more and if they didn't notice, Camphor were getting away with charging a higher price than listed on the menu. Credit card surcharge: they tack on a 3-4% charge for using a credit card that to my knowledge was not listed anywhere prior to paying, which is tacky and gives me an icky feeling. I have never been to a restaurant that charges these prices and applied a credit card surcharge. I don't mind paying a credit card surcharge to cover the fees for mom and pop shops offering lower prices but for a restaurant that charges these prices and has a Michelin star, just factor in the credit card charges into your food prices. If you truly want to incentivize cash payment then maybe offer a cash discount or kindly offer complimentary dessert if they pay cash? Idk anything but a tacky credit card surcharge, please. Service was great, and the appetizers were amazing but the proteins were meh and the credit card surcharge/incorrect charges left us with a bad taste in our mouth. read more

Camphor - Dover sole & chicken - French Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Came here with a friend for the steak frites night and it was such a great experience! The ambiance was warm and inviting, the service ws friendly, attentive, and welcoming. The food was incredible - steak was cooked perfectly, and the fries came with multiple dipping sauces to try. It made a classic steak frites dinner feel a little more fun and elevated. Definitely worth checking out for a date night or girls night! read more

Had a great experience at Camphor, my first time visiting there. Got lucky enough to get the chef's table (OK, the counter in front of the plating) and food swoop me off my feet. Went back recently, and somehow, my expectations were not met. Food was good but not as radiant, service was over the top in some areas, and totally down in others, lightning (we sat at a table this time) was poor and finally raised when we were about to get our check. I'll have to visit again to get full validation. read more